Candy Store

Candy King title. His love for candy came through in everything he did and his quick mind and charming personality sealed the deal.
    It was too bad he obviously didn’t want to kiss her again. Because she couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do more.

    * * * * *

    Several hours later, when the initial crowds had finally died down and Callie was busy mixing up a new batch of hot cocoa, Derek whispered to Ellen, “Can you hold down the fort for a little while? Your Aunt Callie didn’t want to leave you here all alone, but she’s been dying to go ice skating with me. And you’ve been doing the best job out of the three of us. I know a natural when I see one.”
    Ellen nodded, clearly pleased to be left in charge of the Callie’s Candies booth.
    “Sure thing, Derek,” she whispered back. “By the way, I think Aunt Callie kind of likes you.”
    “Really?” he whispered back, enjoying the conspiracy. “What makes you say that?”
    “Every time she looks at you she gets all dreamy eyed.”
    Derek grinned and started to get up, but Ellen grabbed the elbow of his jacket.
    “You’re not gonna break her heart too, are you?”
    Derek sat back down, suddenly serious. “I don’t intend to.”
    Ellen stared him down and he was surprised by the intensity in her young eyes.
    “Promise? ‘Cause I really like you.”
    Callie’s niece sure loved her, Derek thought, to be giving out such stern warnings to prospective boyfriends. His face solemn, he said, “I promise. And I really like you too.”
    Ellen grinned and turned to greet a new customer who had just walked up to the table. Derek waited until Callie put the top back on her metal pot of cocoa and then grabbed her hand.
    “What’s going on?” she asked, trying to pull her hand back out of his. “Where are we going?”
    Over his shoulder he said, “It’s time for a little break, Miss Callie.”
    “A break? Now? But what about Ellen?”
    “Ellen’s got it covered. Now tell me,” he said, “What size are you?”
    Callie flushed and looked down at her chest. “What size am I? What kind of a question is that?”
    “What size shoe do you wear?”
    “Six, but what does it have to do with…”
    Her words fell away as he let go of her hand and picked up one set of rental skates in a six for her and twelve for himself.
    Dangling the skates from his fingertips he said, “You and I are going skating.”
    Callie shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
    Derek grabbed her hand again and steered her over to a bench. “Put ‘em on. Consultant’s orders.”
    She reluctantly took the skates from him. Staring at them, she said, “I haven’t skated in years.”
    “No time like the present,” he said, as he quickly removed his shoes and slipped his feet into the skates. “Besides, you deserve a reward for all of your hard work today.”
    He hoped Callie would let herself have a little fun. With him.
    He saw her shoulders relax a little and breathed out an inaudible sigh of relief. And when she shot him her pixie grin, he made a new decision—to forget all about his earlier decision about not mixing business with pleasure.
    If ever there was a time for pleasure, it was now.
    And by god, he was going to take it.

Chapter Eight

    Callie had just finished tying the laces on her skates when Derek whirled her out onto the crowded ice skating rink. Her legs wobbled beneath her and she found herself holding on to him just a little too tightly.
    “I need to get my skating legs back,” she said by way of explanation, letting herself enjoy the feel of his warmth pressed up against hers while she could. He had one arm firmly wrapped around her waist and she could feel his warm breath on her forehead. His arms were heaven.
    “No rush,” he said, pulling her closer.
    They skated several circles around the rink in a comfortable rhythm and for the first time all day Callie let down her guard.
    Suddenly, Derek steered them over to the far, deserted edge of the rink and pointed to the sky. “Did you see that bald eagle over there?”
    “Where?” She shaded her eyes with her hands, but all she could see on the pine trees was white powder from the fresh snowfall.
    “In the forest. Come with me.”
    Derek grabbed her hand and pulled her into the dense forest with him. Her skates sank into the snow, but he was moving so fast, she didn’t have a chance to get stuck as she tried to keep up.
    By the time he stopped, they were far enough from the skating rink that